Mirany swallowed in fear as the vampire entered her cage, leering at her. Her shirt hung loosely from her shoulders, unbuttoned, revealing her burnt, scarred chest and stomach. Her wrists were bleeding from where the serrated metal cuffs of the chains had cut into her skin and her neck ached from the still healing puncture wounds left by the fangs of the last vampire. The new vampire grinned at her, showing pointed fangs. This one was male, tall and buff, with short, crazy black hair and a slightly manic gleam to his eyes. Mirany knew perfectly well that that couldn't be a good sign.

Had Mirany been able to summon the strength to fight off the vampires that kept coming in, she would have, but she was weakened by the torture, not to mention that she had seen for herself that the only exit was through the club that happened to be constantly packed full of vampires, morning and night, though it was the day time that was worse for her when it came to the torture. She had seen some of the horrors going on in that place, and she preferred her chances where she was. At least the vampires that came to hurt her had to pay big bucks or be quite high up on the social ladder. This vampire was clearly from the latter grouping. He certainly looked like he could have contacts and friends in every corner of LA.

Mirany eyed him wearily. She wasn't picking up any vibes that he wanted to sexually harass her, but that meant that he wanted to physically harass her instead. And sure enough, he was running his finger over all the different torture implemenst on the wall, trying to decide what would do the most damage to her.

"You're a pretty one, did you know that?" he asked her, pulling a large knife off the wall. "They never have pretty ones any more. I'm so glad they found you."

He pulled a blowtorch off the wall too.

"I had almost given up on this place," he continued. "It was always vampires or weak humans lying where you are now. They just weren't right. The vampires didn't taste good and the humans just died all the time. But you're so much more."

He ran a long finger down her cheek as he lit the blowtorch and Mirany flinched slightly.

"You're a Slayer. Your blood tastes good yet you don't die with the first cut. You're the perfect mix."

Mirany whimpered as he held the knife in the flame.

"And the other one over there is pretty good too," said the vampire, gesturing wiht his head towards Connor's cage. "But it is male. What can I say? I prefer the females, even if the males are more attractive at times."

Mirany tried to squirm away from the vampire as he turned off the torch and beared down on her, but with her arms chained above her head the way they were, she couldn't get very far. She wanted to lash out at him, to kick the red hot knife right out of his hand, but she knew that would not end up well. She was at his mercy.

"Feel free to scream," said the vampire.

Mirany did just that.

...

"Connor?" Mirany groaned.

Mirany was having trouble seeing out of one eye. Blood had trickled into it from a cut on her forehead and it had started to crust over now. Her skin was seared and her chest, legs and arms were throbbing with pain.

"Mirany. Are you alright?"

Connor's voice sounded strained. He had been doing a bit of yelling too.

"Connor, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I got you into this mess."

"Don't worry about it Mirany," said Connor. "Just, tell me that you're okay. Please."

"No," Mirany squeaked. "No, I'm not gonna lie to you."

"Mirany, we'll get through this. We'll get out of here," said Connor.

Mirany gave a weak chuckle, but it gave off no hint of amusement.

"We can't get out," she whimpered. "This is it. We won't leave here alive Connor."

"Don't say that Mirany. Don't give up on me. You have to be strong. I know it's hard. It's just as hard for me as it is for you. But we have to do it. We'll never get out of here otherwise. Come on Mirany. Please. For God's sake, stop thinking about what could go wrong and start thinking about what could go right."

"Alright," said Mirany. "But we still can't do anything. We're trapped. The only way out is through a huge crowd of vampires."

"We'll figure something out. Just, stay strong for me. Do that for me Mirany. Please."

Mirany didn't know if he had said anything else after that. All the pain and anguish she had suffered through was finally taking its toll on her and she fell unconscious.

...

Mirany didn't even need to open her eyes to know that her situation had changed while she had been asleep. Whatever was underneath her back was soft and warm rather than the cold stone she had been on for the past three days, and her arms were definitely not above her head any more. She had been cleaned up to some extent. She couldn't feel the dried blood on her face, arms and legs any more. Whatever had happened, it was for the better, not the worse. She opened her eyes slightly and was relieved to find that she was in a dark place.

"Thank God you're awake," Angel muttered. "You've been asleep for ages."

Mirany started wildly and groaned in pain as she moved.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," said Angel. "Oh, you shouldn't move too much."

"What happened?" asked Mirany.

"We found you," said Angel simply. "You were lucky enough to have someone witness your brave attempt at saving a few humans. They came to us, we came to you."

"What took you so long?"

"They came an hour before we got you," said Angel. "It took them three days to come to us."

"Oh. Who was it?"

"Doesn't matter," said Angel quickly. "Can I see your chest?"

Mirany stared at him for a moment before sighing.

"Sure, why not? It's not as though you'll be the first vampire to see it," she muttered.

She moved to undo her shirt but had to bite down hard on her lip to stop herself from crying out in pain.

"Oh yeah, it's probably best you don't move much," said Angel. "They injected something into you. Said it made you feel pain even when you only moved slightly. Apparently their customers enjoy the screaming."

He sounded disgusted.

"How did you get us out?" asked Mirany.

"I came as a customer," said Angel, awkwardly beginning to unbutton Mirany's shirt. "It was the only way I could get in without being noticed."

"Oh," said Mirany. "Right."

"Tell me if it hurts okay?"

Mirany nodded and immediately wished she hadn't. Angel traced his finger over a few of the wounds, he face masked.

"I should've killed them," he muttered. "I should have killed every last one of them."

Mirany had never seen him that before and it scared her. Even though he was trying to control it, his face gave away his anger and loathing of the vampires that had taken her and Connor. He traced over a newer cut and Mirany flinched away slightly.

"Sorry," he muttered, snapping out of his trance and doing her shirt back up. "You're healing fairly well, that's a good sign."

"How long until this pain stuff wears off?" asked Mirany.

"It's worn off Connor already," said Angel. "Only a few hours."

"How is he?" asked Mirany.

"He's fine," said Angel. "He's catching up on a bit of sleep then he'll be up here. He's really worried about you."

"I put him in danger," said Mirany. "Terrible danger."

"Mirany, he doesn't care," said Angel. "He just wants to know that you're okay."

Mirany sighed.

"He shouldn't," she muttered.

"He does," said Angel. "Mirany, Connor doesn't hold a grudge over something like this. He came with you voluntarily. As far as he's concerned, it wasn't your fault."

"What about you?"

"I think you should have talked to me before you went," said Angel. "But I don't blame you either."

"Caring, forgiving, understanding bastards," Mirany muttered. "Why can't you just hate me?"

Angel smirked.

"You can't get rid of us that easily," he said.

There was a tap on the door and a moment later it opened.

"I thought you were sleeping," said Angel.

"Couldn't," said Connor. "Not with my girl like this. I heard you talking so I figured you'd woken up."

"Connor are you...?"

"I'm fine Mirany," said Connor before she had completed her sentence. "Really, I'm alright. Are you?"

"She's had the pain stuff injected into her. It hasn't worn off yet, but the wounds are healing fairly well," said Angel.

"How did you get us out without attracting the attention of every other vampire there?" asked Mirany.

"I almost thought he wasn't going to get us out," said Connor. "He came in and talked to me for a while, trying to get all the information he could, but he wasn't making any attempt at helping us get free. I thought he was going to leave us there, come up with a plan and come back in a couple of days."

"That had been the plan," said Angel. "But I saw you and I couldn't leave you there any longer so I had to think one up on the spot."

"And what did you come up with?" asked Mirany.

"I pretended to be disposing your body and bringing Connor out to watch," said Angel. "The vamps that noticed anything thought it was a fine idea, wanted to come too, but I got rid of them pretty quickly."

"Mirany, you're avoiding my question," said Connor.

Mirany stared at him.

"Angel told you," she said. "Pain thingo but healing well."

"How do you feel?" asked Connor impatiently.

"I don't wanna burden you with that," said Mirany. "You've been through enough on my count."

"Mirany, stop blaming yourself," said Connor.

"Who was the witness?" asked Mirany. "I wanna give them a good kick and box of chocolates."

"What's the kick for?" asked Angel.

"For being a coward and waiting three days to tell anyone," Mirany snapped.

"I said they didn't tell us until three days after you were taken," said Angel. "I didn't say they didn't tell anyone. Another person tried to help you, couldn't, and suggested that the witness came here."

"Who was the witness, and who was the other person?" asked Mirany, becoming impatient.

Angel bit his lip.

...

Mirany walked into the room and put on the head set. She dialed the number and waited for a moment until Lilah came on the screen. She looked extremely tired and glared at her.

"Mirany, I really have better things to do than to talk to a hormonal Slayer," she said.

"You'll talk to me," said Mirany firmly. "Think back four days ago. Someone came to Wolfram and Hart. Someone who witnessed two kids teenagers being kidnapped. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that now, would you?"

Lilah looked faintly amused.

"Is that what you called me for?" she asked. "To see if I knew something about a kidnapping?"

"It's my kidnapping," Mirany snapped. "Connor and I were both taken when we tried to rescue a couple of humans from a vampire rave. Someone saw it and they came to you. Why did you try to help?"

"I helped you and you're angry at me? asked Lilah. "I'm surprised at you Mirany. I certainly wasn't expecting that reaction. I tried to help you. And when I couldn't I sent Angel after you. Why are you angry at me?"

"I know you want me dead Lilah," said Mirany. "Why not just leave me to die there? Would've saved you a lot of bother."

Lilah smirked.

"I want you dead Mirany, yes, but I want to do it myself, not through a few vampires that get their rocks off torturing humans. Anyway, I was never a huge fan of those vampire hangouts. They're all stuck up demons, obsessed with money, power, fame, evil."

"Sounds just like someone I know," said Mirany pointedly.

Lilah ignored her.

"Do you have something you want to ask or tell me Mirany?" she asked.

"Yes," said Mirany. "I want to know why."

"Why? Oh Mirany please, do give me a little credit, said Lilah. "I do have a heart. You still have two months to live. I want you to enjoy that time. Am I not allowed to look after my favourite little sister before we go to war on each other?"

"I'm you're only younger sister," said Mirany.

"Mirany, I don't know why you're upset," said Lilah. "What's your problem?"

"Make up your mind," said Mirany. "Do you want me dead or not?"

"I can't tell you my motives Mirany, just accept that I was kind for once," said Lilah. "Now can I go home and get some sleep?"

"What did you do?" asked Mirany.

"What do you mean?" asked Lilah.

"What did you do to try to help me?" asked Mirany.

"I cut down their ranks, got vampires in that were less likely to kill you, sent Angel after you when I couldn't do anything else. I'm human, I can't go in there, and neither can normal demons. I couldn't find any vampires who were willing to go and rescue the Slayer and her pet boyfriend so all I could do was get Angel involved. Is a thank you too much to ask for?"

Mirany sighed.

"Thanks," she muttered.

"Don't think this makes us friends," said Lilah. "This was a once off."

"I am in total agreement," said Mirany, hanging up.

...

Mirany coughed and spluttered as Angel whacked the demon hard over the head with a crowbar, causing it to release it's hold on her throat. She crawled over to a corner and rested her head against the wall, trying to catch her breath again and rubbing her neck.

"Mirany, get up and help," Angel snapped, trying to swing at the demon again but it was fast and kept dodging his attacks.

Mirany ignored him, still coughing. Angel scowled and continued to try to attack the demon. Connor jumped on it's back and stabbed it in th neck. The demon collapsed and Angel stood back, sighing.

"Mirany..."

"Hey, I have a right to collapse. That thing nearly killed me," said Mirany. "Can't a Slayer have a few nights off? I was just tortured and I need to rest. I shouldn't be out here fighting demons."

"You've had your time off," said Angel. "Come on, let's find another haunt. Maybe this time you'll be able to..."

The explosion was right above them, causing the whole tunnel to shudder and parts of the roof to come down around them.

"What's going on?" asked Angel, staring above them.

"We need to get out of here," said Connor. "Come on."

He helped Mirany to her feet and they dashed out of the demon's lair. There were a few spot fires around but there wasn't too much damage.

"What just happened?" asked Angel, poking around the explosion site. "I can't see anything that would cause an explosion like this."

Mirany was staring around wildly, trying to figure out whether or not it was the explosion that she had witnessed before. Connor noticed her fearful gaze and looked at her curiously.

"What's the matter?" he asked.

"Nothing," said Mirany quickly. "Nothing. It's fine."

It didn't seem to be the explosion in her dream, but it did look similar. It was the same sort of style. Lots of burnt and broken pieces of metal and brick and plenty of flames around them.

"I don't believe that," said Connor.

Mirany bit her lip. Angel looked around at her as well, but he put the two together much quicker.

"You had a dream, didn't you?" he asked.

"What?" asked Mirany. "No. No I...I didn't..."

"That's why you were so upset," said Connor.

"I don't know what you're talking about," said Mirany.

Angel scowled.

"What did you see?" he asked angrily.

"It was ages ago," said Mirany. "I...I didn't want to believe it."

"Tell me Mirany."

Mirany glared at him.

"No," she snapped.

"Mirany, if it has anything to do with this or what's going to happen with Wolfram and Hart then I need to know," said Angel. "I don't know whether you still hold loyalty to Lilah and I don't care. You were called to protect the innocent. You tell me what you saw right now."

Mirany growled at him.

"I do not hold any alliance with Lilah any more," she snarled. "But I won't let you force me into anything. I'll tell you what I saw when I'm ready to face it."

"YOU NEED TO FACE IT NOW!" Angel yelled.

"NO I DON'T!" Mirany yelled back. "I'M NOT READY AND I'M CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO LET YOU DECIDE WHEN I'M READY!"

"Guys please," said Connor. "Stop..."

"YOU'RE GOING TO GET US ALL KILLED!" Angel yelled. "WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON OR WE WON'T HAVE A CHANCE WHEN IT'S TIME TO FIGHT!"

"I DIDN'T SAY I WOULDN'T TELL YOU! I SAID I WOULDN'T TELL YOU YET!" Mirany yelled.

"SO WHEN EXACTLY DO YOU PLAN ON TELLING ME THEN? AFTER WE'VE BEEN KILLED?"

"Stop fighting," said Connor. "We need to stick together. It's the only way we'll be able to..."

"SHUT UP!" Angel snarled.

His face had changed in his rage. His eyes were yellow, his brow furrowed and his teeth becoming pointed fangs. Connor knew what happened next. Angel was preparing himself to fight.

"IF YOU DON'T HELP US, WE WON'T STAND A CHANCE!"

"GOOD!" Mirany yelled. "BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, I DON'T THINK I WANT TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE."

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Connor yelled furiously.

Mirany and Angel both looked at him.

"Why am I always breaking you two up?" asked Connor. "Can't you just agree for once?"

"If you have something to say, you had better say it right now," Mirany snarled, clenching and unclenching her fists, her eyes fixed on Angel, a look of pure hatred on her face.

"We shouldn't fight like this," said Connor. "This is only going to get harder from here on out. We don't know how this explosion occured, but I'm betting it was Wolfram and Hart, and I think it was to break us up. They want you two to hate each other."

"They're doing a great job," said Angel.

"Dad, come on, this is stupid," said Connor. "And you too Mirany. You're both being unreasonable. I get that it's hard to face a dream that could be showing you your death, but we have to know Mirany. However, we can't force it out of you. Please."

He didn't seem to be getting through to either of them.

"Come on," said Connor desperately. "We're easy targets when we're divided. We have to stand together."

Mirany shook her head.

"Not this time," she said. "I'm not siding with him again."

Connor stared after her as she stormed off, then he rounded on Angel.

"Oh, well done," he snapped.

"She'll come back," said Angel, his face changing back to normal.

"I wouldn't bet on it," said Connor, walking away.

...

"What's wrong with Mirany?" asked Cordelia. "She came round here, grabbed her bike and left. I tried to talk to her and she nearly ripped my throat out."

"I have better things to do than to worry about an adolescent little bitch," Angel snapped.

Cordelia stared at him.

"Don't ask," said Connor, throwing his knife into the corner of the lobby. "All you need to know is that we're doomed."

"What?" Cordelia hissed. "What did you do?"

"They fought," said Connor. "And now Mirany's not going to talk to him."

"Which means that she's not going to talk to us," said Cordelia. "Angel, how could you? You know that we need her. And you know that she needs us. She's vulnerable to Lilah and herself now."

"She'll have to deal with it," said Angel. "Because I'm not going to go over there and tell her that she won, because she didn't."

"No, Wolfram and Hart did," said Connor.

"We're so in for it now," Cordelia muttered. "I am going to kill you Angel."

...

"What's got you so angry?" asked Lilah, smirking.

"I'm not talking to you Lilah," said Mirany. "Leave me alone."

"But this is the perfect opportunity," said Lilah. "You know, we could really piss Angel off as a team."

"Lilah, you won't get me to join you," said Mirany.

"I know you had that dream," said Lilah. "It scares you, doesn't it? Knowing your future's that bleak. If you joined Wolfram and Hart, that would change. We can help with your dreams, and you'd be safe from what's going to happen. You'd change your course Mirany. You wouldn't die."

Mirany stared at her.

"You can't help my dreams," she said. "They're one of my powers. You can't make them go away."

"We can," said Lilah. "Wolfram and Hart is much more than just a law firm Mirany."

Mirany swallowed.

"And I'll be safe?" she asked.

"Yes," said Lilah. "Mirany, we're sisters. We can't be seperated like this, it's hard on both of us, denying our last living relative. Come on. I'll help you."

Mirany bit her lip.

"Just, let me send over a contract. You don't have to sign it but at least you can see what you'd be in for here," said Lilah.

Mirany considered her, knowing perfectly well that if she saw the contract, she was more than likely to sign it. Still, would it be that bad? She could stop the explosion from happening, which would save Connor at least, and she might be able to do some good in Wolfram and Hart. Mirany took a deep breath, then took the plunge.

"Alright."

***AUTHOR'S NOTE***

Yeah, the start of this is like that scene in that Buffy episode where Willow's vampire is torturing Angel, but I loved that episode and I had to do something with that idea. I don't own anything but if I didn't do something along the same lines I would have burst. I know I didn't really explain how they got into the situation either so really it's up to your imagination, just follow the hints I gave.

Please review. I try to use your suggestions whenever possible. I hope you liked the chapter and I'll have another one up soon.